Orchid POS and Orchid eBound users,
Over the next week we will release several significant updates to the Orchid Software Portal including the launch of new applications and enhancements to Orchid eBoundTM. The following is a summary of the changes. Additional details on their use, effectivity date or purchase can be found throughout the balance of this document. Highlights of the release are as follows:
Orchid eSerialTM
Orchid eStorageTM
A new application used for the online, digital storage of ATF / FFL documents and the display of on-hand FFL images (.pdf, .png, or .jpg) in the Orchid eBoundTM receive and transfer screens.
Orchid IMTM
A new application for managing serialized firearm inventory by virtual location.
Orchid eFFL APITM
A new API that provides a live data feed of ATF EZ Check FFL and LOA data, Orchid eStorageTM FFL on-file data and Orchid eBoundTM customer master file data.
Orchid eCommerce APITM
A new API that integrates on-hand Orchid eBoundTM inventory with an eCommerce application.
Orchid eBoundTM Software Enhancements
To learn more about our new applications please contact our sales team. To learn more about the updates to Orchid eBoundTM, please contact our customer support team using the ticketing system found in the Online Support Center.
Q1S2.22 Release – New Orchid Software Applications
Orchid IMTM (Inventory Management)
Effectivity Date – Saturday, January 29, 2022
Orchid IMTM is a serialized inventory management system that natively integrates with your Orchid eBoundTMaccount. The new application permits the management of inventory by user-defined locations such as a region, facility, department, room, cage / crib, safe, shelf or employee for 2010-1 temporary assignments. Additionally, Orchid IMTM provides broader user access control to now include “Inventory Manager” and “Inventory Control” levels. Orchid IMTM is sold separately but requires no additional programming to enable its use.
Orchid eSerialTM (Firearm Laser Marking Control)
Effectivity Date – Live
Orchid eSerialTM is designed to integrate your Orchid eBoundTM account with laser marking devices such as those from Rofin, Trumpf, Jimani and others. The application is semi-plug-and-play, with an available API and middleware application (depending on laser model) to connect your software and hardware. Orchid eSerialTM users can define serial number ranges by firearm model or part number, reserve or block individual numbers and report on their status. Orchid eSerialTM automatically acquires firearms into your Orchid eBoundTM account based-on regulated data that is maintained in your Orchid eBoundTM part master. Orchid eSerialTM is sold separately and requires an implementation to connect the API to your laser device.
Orchid eStorageTM and FFL-on-File
Effectivity Date – Live
Orchid eStorageTM natively integrates with Orchid eBoundTM and provides an electronic repository for the storage of all ATF-related documents except for the e4473*. Such documentation includes vendor / customer FFLs, NFA forms, firearm destruction photos, inspection materials and more. The Orchid eStorageTM application natively integrates with the Orchid ATF EZ Check APITM and Orchid eBoundTM to ensure users can check the status of FFL copies held on file. Users of Orchid eBoundTM and Orchid eStorageTM will be able to view red / green status indicators and thumbnail views of FFLs directly in our standard transactions such as Receive and FFL Transfer. Orchid eStorageTM is sold separately but doesn’t require additional programming to enable its use. (*Electronic storage of e4473s requires 4473Cloud and an ATF approved variance).
4473Cloud Integration
Effectivity Date – Live
Our integration to 4473Cloud is now operational and being used by several FFLs. Any Orchid eBoundTM customer who would like to use the integration should subscribe to the 4473Cloud service. Use of the 4473Cloud / Orchid eBoundTM integration doesn’t require additional programming and can be enabled by toggling the account activation switch and accepting the terms of use. There are no additional fees for this Orchid service.
Orchid eFFL APITM
Effectivity Date – Live
All FFL and LOA data available on the ATF EZ Check site has been integrated with Orchid eBoundTM customer master data and Orchid eStorageTM FFL-on-File data. The combined data feed is available for external use through the Orchid eFFL APITM. EZ Check data includes FFLs, LOAs, addresses, geographic location, and expiration dates. Orchid data includes customer master file notes, customer master file addresses and FFL-on-File details. Orchid eFFL APITM is sold separately but requires no additional programming to enable its use.
Orchid eCommerce APITM (eCommerce / eBound Integration)
Effectivity Date – Saturday, January 29, 2022
We have enabled API access to identify, reserve, and sell the available, on-hand inventory found in their Orchid eBoundTM. The Orchid eCommerce APITM streams available serial numbers to your own or a third-party website for sale. The API also accepts a return call to hold (or “reserve”) serial numbers sold online for consumer pickup and transfer. Orchid eCommerce APITM is sold separately but requires no additional programming to enable its use.
Q1S2-22 Release – Orchid eBoundTM Enhancements
Operational Firearm Reporting
Effectivity Date – Saturday, January 29, 2022
Over ten additional attributes have been added to: (a) The Orchid eBoundTM Part Master; (b) The Orchid eBoundTM“Standard Transactions” including Serialize, Receive, FFL Transfer and others; and (c) to several Orchid eBoundTMreports, filters, and advanced search tools. The new fields and reporting features permit a broader level of firearm management and reporting, except for customers who are not using an integrated ERP or POS system.
Firearm classification enhancements include:
Standard transactions enhancements include:
Users will also find a new area called “Additional Columns” in the eBound Search, Open Disposition and NFA Open Disposition reports that allow the toggling of fields on and off at their discretion. Additionally, enhancements have been made to the “Advanced Search” tool so that users can filter by these new fields.
Dynamic Reporting (‘Day’s Summary Report’)
Effective Date – Now Live
A dynamic report has been added to Orchid eBoundTM that provides an operational view of transactions by day’s end, month’s end or for a specified range. The report is ideal for Daily Shipping Reports, Shipping Manifests, Destruction Reports and much more. The following criteria are available for selection and filtering:
Date Selection
Transaction Type
Trading Partner
Data Grouping / Summary
The report will include these fields
Connecticut Form DPS-67
Effective Date – Now Live
FFL dealers located in the State of Connecticut may take advantage of a fully integrated and automated CT Form DPS-67. This form integrates with the ATF eForm 4473 and eliminates the need for additional data entry, paper management or storage. Enabling the new form will also trigger FFL-only feedback on the prohibited persons questions provided on the DPS-67 form. The response to these questions will be shown to the FFL as they begin Section C of the eForm 4473. Use of the CT Form DPS-67 can be enabled by an account admin in the User Management area of Orchid eBoundTM.
Bulk Destruction
Effective Date – Now Live
Batch Processing and Batch Import have been added to the Destroy transaction to facilitate larger volume transactions.
Batch Processing / Batch Import Toggle
Effective Date – Now Live
Some customers process high serial number volumes while others process one or two at a time. In lieu of defaulting every standard transaction to the Single Entry of a serial number, we’ve made it possible for each user to set their own default. Found in the upper right-hand corner under your username and Account Settings is a toggle switch called “Batch Processing Options.” You may select your own default as either Single Entry, Batch Processing or Batch Import. Despite the default setting, we’ve still permitted each user to switch between the options while operating in the standard transaction.
ATF EZ Check Updates and LOAs
Effective Date – Now Live
Since our inception, the FFL-related data fields on our standard transactions have been populated with ATF EZ Check data. Previously, that data was updated on a monthly basis. Effective this release that data is updated daily. This upload now includes ATF issued LOAs will be added to the transaction screens in the new year.
ERP to Orchid eBoundTM Integration
Effective Date – Now Live
We’ve made speed and reliability enhancements to the API which connects many of your ERP applications to Orchid eBound. Completed integrations include Orchid eBoundTM to NetSuite, Epicor, Sage, Fishbowl and others. Integrations are also available to SAP, Oracle, Microsoft 365 and other ERP systems.
eForm 4473 “Blank Signatures”
Effective Date – Saturday, January 29, 2022
We’ve enhanced software controls over all e4473 signature fields. While the application historically prevented users from preceding without a signature, our team did identify a ‘loop hole’ which one Orchid eBoundTM user had accidentally used. With this release that ‘loop hole’ has been removed, enhancing the likelihood that a consumer cannot proceed without signing the form.
Please note that it is not possible to control the quality of the signature entered by the customer nor your employees. If either party chooses to enter a line and a series of dots in lieu of a full signature, we are unable to prevent that behavior at this time.
eForm 4473 Caliber Cutoff
Effective Date – Saturday, January 29, 2022
As many of you know, the ATF’s actual eForm 4473 provides only 8 characters for the firearm caliber. We have expanded the capacity of our field to allow 18 characters. Please note that calibers with a greater number of characters will be truncated as they are on the ATF-provided form.
Updated 2022 ATF eForm 3310.4
Effective Date – Now Live
Effective Monday, January 17, ATF Form 3310.4 was updated in Orchid eBoundTM to reflect the ATF’s latest release. Any transactions performed in Orchid eBound prior to that date will reflect the prior ATF format. Please note that ATF released this form to industry without any notifications to the software vendors as was historically their practice.
Speed of the ‘Completed e4473s’ and ‘Open Dispositions’ Reports
Effective Date – Saturday, January 29, 2022
Large customers with a high volume of completed e4473s or a significant number of open dispositions experienced slower screen loads in their respective reports. To alleviate this issue, we have added a pagination feature that will load a limited (but practical) amount of data per page to significantly enhance speed.
Assembly / Disassembly Control
Effective Date – Now
We’ve added an enhanced level of internal control to prohibit the reassemble of a completed firearm into itself (or vice versa). Previously, a S&W 9mm Pistol (for example) could be selected in the Assembly or Disassembly transaction and converted to another S&W 9mm Pistol. Now, a firearm must be deconstructed and then reassembled (or vice versa) before a subsequent operation is permitted.
Single Sign-On via SAML Technology
Effective Date – Now
We’ve added single sign-on capability so that users from their internal corporate environment (i.e., Microsoft) can access Orchid eBoundTM and related applications without having to enter their credentials. Enabling this functionality does require a thorough understanding of SAML technology and implementation is required.